Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-08-20
CHAPTER X.
THE ROSE OF FIRE.


On we few, drawn by the mighty current,
till at last noticed that the sound of the
water was not half so deafening as it had
been, and concluded that this must be be
cause there was more room for the echoes to
dispense in. I could now hear Alphonse's
bowls much more distinctly; they were made
up of the oldest mixture of invocations 10
the Supreme Power and the name OF his be-
loved Annette that it is possible to conceive;
and, liz short, though their evident earnest
ness saved them from profanity, were, to say
the least, very remarkable. Taking up
paddle, i managed to drive IL into his ribs,
wherein he, thinking that the end had come,
howled louder than ever. Then slowly and
cautiously raised myself on my knees and
stretched my hand upward, but could touch
no roof Next took the paddle and lifted it
above my head as high as l could, but with
the same result. also thrust it out laterally
to the right and left, but could touch nothing
except water Then l bethought me that
there was in the boat, among our other re-
naming possessions, bulls eye lantern and
tin of oil. ! CROPPED about and found it,
and having match on me, carefully lit 1t,
and as soon as the flame had got hold Of the
wick | turned it ON down the boat As 1T
the white and scared face Of Alphonse, who,
thinking that il was all over at last, and that
he was witnessing a preliminary CO
lestial phenomenon, gave a terrific yell,
and was with difficulty treasured with
the paddle. As for the other three, Good
was lying ON the flat Of his back, his eye
glass still fixed in his eye, and gazing blansly
into the upper darkness. Sir Henry had his
head resting on the thwarts Of the canoe, ana
with his hand was trying TO test the speed OF
the water But when the beam OF light fell
upon old Umslopogaas | could really have
laughed think have said that we had put
roast quarter of water buck into the canoe.
Wen, it so happened that when we all pros
trated ourselves to avoic being swept out Of
the boat and into the water by the rock roof,
Umsopogaas' head hao come down uncom-
monty near this roast b lck, and so soon as he
had recovered q little from the first shock OF
our position it occurred to him that he was
hungry. Thcreupon he coolly cut off chop
with Inllosi kaas, and was now employed ia
eating it, with every appearance Of satisfac-
ton. As he aftorward explained, he thought
that he was going ION a long journey ana
preferred 10 start on a full stomach. W re
minded me Of the people who are going TO be
hanged, and who are generally reported ia
the English daily papers to have made IAN
excellent breakfast"
As soon as the others saw that ] had maii-
aged to light UP the lamp, we bundled
Alphonse into the farther end Of the canoe
with threat, which Gained him wonder
fully, that if he would insist upon making
the darkness hitleous with his cries we would
put him out Of suspense by sending him 70
Join the Wakwafi and watt for Annette IN
another sphere, and began to discuss the
situation as well MS we could First, how
ever, at Goods suggestion we bound two
paddles mast fashion in the bows, so that
they might give us warning against any
sudden lowering Of the roof Of the cave or
water way. 1t was clear to as that we were
in an underground river, Or as Alphonse de-
fined it, "main drain" which carried OF the
the superfluous waters Of the lake such
rivers, are well known to exist in many parts
Of the world, but it has not often been the
evil fortune Of explorers TO travel by them
| That the river was wide we could clearly see,
| for the light from the bulls eye lantern
failed to reach from shore 20 Shore although
| occasionally when the current swept US either
70 one side on the other, we could Distinguish
the rock wall Of the tunnel, which, as far as
we could make out, appeared to arch about
! twenty-five feet above our heads. As for the
the current itself, it ran, Good estimated, at
least eight knots, and fortunately for US was
as is usual, fercest in the middle OF the
stream. Still, our first act was TO arrange
] that oWesf Us with the lantern and a pole